Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-14

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have no reason to be ashamed OF tn
work.
The granite for this building is a gift t.
: the state from Messrs. Westfall, Lacy aru
Norton, the owners OF the ouarries.
herewith transmit copy of the last re
port of the capitol commissioners, t,
which l invite careful perusal
There has been some criticisms in
dulged in by persons IN various parts @
the state Of the manner in which the boarC
has conducted this enterprise, and sue
gest the appointment of o committee
whose duty it shall be to make thorough
Investigation into the manner OF con.
structing the building and everything con
neated with II, so that the people may be
advised through their chosen representa-
! tiyes.
THE GOVERNORS MANSION.
This building, furniture and grounds
! are old and dilapidated, requiring con-
slant repairs and attention. In 1883 the
legislature appropriated $500 towards
repairs. This sum was expended under
| the direction and supervision of Cart
/ McLqurin, one Of the present capitol
commissioners. In addition to that sum
nearly $500 Of the contingent fund was
used for the same purpose. The house
wss plastered, ceme2:ed ard painted, So
/ that wster d es not penetrate the walls,
and good sewerage has been completed
! to AID connected with tae y3ain state
| sewer leading to the river. The roof was
also repaired, some new furniture was
! placed in the building, but still, by rea-
| son of Its age and Gecayed condition, the
mansion needs constant renovsti2g, and
means should be provided to that end.
EDUCATION.
Steady and valuable Improvements are
going on in our free school system. In
| 1882 we expended Sl,l0S,4 25 for free
| schools, and In 1886 the amount expended
reached the sum OF 81 362 ,2262 This is
exclusive of the University, the AGricuI-
tural and Mechanical College and the two
Normal schools. OF course tue system is
not yet perfect, aad it never will be until
some Of the critics are charged with form
ulating system.
THE STATE UNIVERSITY.
| This institution is in its infancy, hut on
permanent basis. The faculty is an ex-
! ctilent one, and we look forward to the
near approach OF the time when our pe0-
! pie will educate their children at home,
and the children of Texas will crowd the
walls of the University of Texas.
trust that way may be found of er-
Aiding The regents to speedily complete
tie building, and to put into operation the
medical department. In this connection
| call the attention of the legislature to
the claim against the state for money used
at the Prairie View Normal school in
1882, amounting to 800, 495 10. This
amount should be refunded 10 the Uni
Versity.
invite attention to the report Of the
board OF regents, g copy of which l here
with transmit.
THE NORMAL SCHOOL.
The Sam Houston Normal Institute was
never in such an excellent state of
efficiency as now, and under the able su-
pervisIOn of its board of managers and
Prof. Baldwin 1t ranks among the very
| first schools of its class. The state is
being rapidly furnished with well trained
young men and women from this insttu-
ton, and l am gratified 70 know that in
nearly every instance they are fulfilling
their obligations to the commonwealth
by teaching the length of time stipulated
on entering the institute.
The Prairie View Normal is also doing
well, and although the pleasing results
visible at the Sam Houston are not here
demonstrated in the same ratio, still it is
efftCung great good in the education of
the colored people of Texas, and gives
promise CT permanent benefit.
REVISION Or THE LAWS.
The constitution Cart. ,, Sec. 49, re-
quires the legislature to provide for q re-
vision of the laws every ten years. The
code of laws we now have was provided
for by the legislature in July, 1876, and
the prescribed period having now elapsed,
it is proper for this legislature to make a
ike provision.
PUBLIC HIGHWAYS.
There is DO doubt that the present
"road law'' is very defective and, as q
burden # government, very unequal in
its operations. If Il proper revision of
our penal laws is had, as suggested else
where in this message, aud if minor OF
lenses are made rni>GemeauOrs Instead of
fel0nies, and, further, if the various coun-
ties are required instead of being per-
mitted TO work the roads with county
convicts, the trouble with our highways
will be in great measure solved. The
law should be so framed that those in
charge of that class OF cOnyiCts should be
held 10 strict account that the prisoner
does the work he is placed ct in a thor
ough manner. If Il loose system is
adopted it will prove disastrous to the
public and the counties.
FEES To OFFICERS.
In view of the fact that large number
of cases in which the state is 2 party are
filed in Travis county, it would seem that
the officers of tnat county should have
some compensation. These are cases
where no provision is made for he pay
meat of fees. Even now a considerable
bill, amounting to about $1,000, has ac-
crued in this way, aud it is submitted
that some provision should be made TO
meet such cases.
RAILWAYS.
At the present time there is a general
movement all over this state to supply
the vacant fields with railway facilities.
1t is well known to those who take the
trouble to investigate, or who have kept
up with the current history OF the state,
thai have opposed all subsidies to rail
way companies from my FIRST entrance
into public life in 1873, whether in lands
or IN money. l opposed the amend
ment to the constitution in 1913 By which
tins lands could be used in that way, and
| never believed that there was any
authority in the legislature to tax the
people for tae purpose of Substituting cor
pGrations. There now is no money no.
authority to give moTey or lands (Gs
ehere are 10 lands in such way. Bnt
as the railroads have banished all other.
means of travelling or transportation, and
while the absolute property in them BE-
longs to the stockholders. yet they ere
the peoples highways. Their errors and
the abuses they may practice should, be
corrected. The states, snd not the
national government, can correct suoa
abuses. The federal government hes no
constitutional authority over them Il
whatever wrongs they indulge in toward